Movable head restraints for vehicle seats

ABSTRACT

A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C.§119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2010 041 941.9, filed Oct. 4, 2010, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate to a vehicle seat assembly having a movablehead restraint.

BACKGROUND

Movable head restraints permit adjustment of a head restraint relativeto a seat assembly. One such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,073,863 B1 to Low et al.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a movable head restraint assemblyaccording to at least one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the head restraint assembly of FIG.1, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the head restraint assembly of FIG.1, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head restraint assembly of FIG. 1,illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the head restraint assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a manual button assembly of the headrestraint assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the head restraint assembly of FIG. 1according to another embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the head restraint assemblyof FIG. 1 including a manual button assembly according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 9 a perspective view of the manual button assembly of the headrestraint assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 a perspective view of a component of the manual button assemblyof the head restraint assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 a perspective view of a component of the manual button assemblyof the head restraint assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a movable head restraint assemblyaccording to another embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the head restraint assembly of FIG. 7,illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a button assembly according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a movable head restraint assemblyaccording to another embodiment, illustrated partially disassembled;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a button assembly of the head restraintassembly of FIG. 15 according to an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a button assembly of the head restraintassembly of FIG. 15 according to an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a top prospective view of an adjustable head restraintassembly with the upper housing portion removed therefrom, illustratinga locking mechanism;

FIG. 19 is a partial section view of a portion of the locking mechanismof FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is an enlarged top perspective schematic view of a portion ofthe locking mechanism of FIG. 18, illustrated in the locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a movable head restraint assembly is illustrated inreference generally by numeral 100. The head restraint assembly 100 isprovided adjacent a seat back of a vehicle seat and may be mounteddirectly to the vehicle seat or directly to the vehicle body adjacentthe seat back for supporting the head of an occupant. The seat assemblymay be for a vehicle such as a car, truck, aircraft, watercraft, or thelike. The movable head restraint assembly 100 is illustrated including ahead restraint 102 provided upon a support post 104. The support post104 may be generically referred to as a guide member. The support post104 may be fixed relative to the vehicle or the vehicle seat back. Thesupport post 104 may be received within a guide sleeve for uprightadjustment relative to the seat back. The support post 104 may have anysuitable configuration. For example, one or more support posts 104 mayextend from the head restraint 102. Moreover, the support posts 104 maybe generally U-shaped such that the pair of support posts 104 are formedintegrally. The support posts 104 may be made of any suitable materialor materials such as in metal or metal alloy.

The head restraint 102 may include a trim cover 106 for enclosing acushion (not shown), a housing, and a locking mechanism. A manual buttonassembly 108 extends from the housing and the trim cover 106 for manualactuation for disengaging the locking mechanism. The button assembly 108is illustrated oriented to be manually actuated by being slid in anupright direction. Pressing the button assembly 108 in the uprightdirection of FIG. 1 releases the locking mechanism and permits movementof the head restraint 102 relative to the support posts 104 in a foreand aft direction, which may be horizontal. In the depicted embodiment,the head restraint 102 is illustrated at a limit in one direction, theaft direction, relative to the vehicle. Thus, by sliding or tilting thebutton assembly 108, the occupant may move the head restraint 102 in thefore direction from the position depicted or to multiple incrementalpositions therebetween.

Prior art head restraint assemblies often utilize a push button fordisengaging locking mechanisms. Due to a range of travel required by thelocking mechanism in a lateral direction, the push button may berequired to extend from the head restraint assembly in a lateraldirection thereby increasing an overall lateral dimension of the headrestraint assembly. By providing the button assembly 108 in a directionthat is perpendicular to the lateral direction, a direction of travelrequired by the button assembly 108 does not significantly add to anoverall lateral dimension of the head restraint 102.

Referring to FIG. 2, the head restraint 102 is illustrated with the trimcover 106 and cushioning removed thereby revealing the housing which isprovided by a front shell 110 and a rear shell 112. The front and rearshells 110, 112 may be enclosed at least partially with the trim cover106 and/or cushioning. The front and rear shells 110, 112 may provide asupport structure and may include openings that face toward each other.The front and rear shells 110, 112 may engage or interlock with eachother.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the button assembly 108 for the depictedembodiment extends laterally from the shells 110, 112. For example, thebutton assembly 108 extends a distance that is less than sixteenmillimeters, thereby resulting in a compact head restraint 102 in thelateral direction in comparison of prior art head restraint assemblies.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the head restraint assembly 100 isillustrated with components that are housed within the head restraint102. The rear shell 112 includes a plurality of posts 114 that extendforward and engage corresponding posts 116 of the front shell 110. Forthe depicted embodiment, the rear shell 112 includes an array of posts114, with an upper central post 114 and a pair of lower laterally spacedposts 114. Each of the posts 114 may have any suitable guideconfiguration. For the depicted embodiment, the upper post 114 isgenerally rectangular; and the lower posts 114 each include a bevelremoving an outboard corner of the otherwise rectangular profile tofacilitate with guidance in assembly of a corresponding guide member.Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the posts 114 includes aseries of notches 118, 120 formed therein spaced incrementally in anaxial direction of the posts 114, 116.

A traverse member 122 is disposed in the head restraint 102 upon thesupport posts 104. The traverse member 122 and the front and rear shells110, 112 may be generically referred to as guide members. The traversemember 122 includes an array of sleeves 124 that are sized to receivethe posts 114, 116 of the front and rear shells 110, 112. The sleeves124 and the posts 114, 116 may be generically referred to as guidemembers. Each of the sleeves 124 may utilize any form of bushing,bearing, or slide for reducing friction. In one embodiment, the traversemember 122 is a first guide member and the front and rear shells 110,112 collectively are a second guide member. The first and second guidemembers include sleeves and posts that cooperate to allow the first andsecond guide members to move in the fore and aft direction relative toeach other.

The front shell 110 and the rear shell 112 are mounted for movement in afore and aft direction upon the transverse member 122. The front andrear shells 110, 112 support the cushion and trim cover 106 of the headrestraint 102. A locking mechanism 126 limits movement of the front andrear shells 110, 112, and consequently limits movement of the cushionand trim cover 106 relative to the traverse member 122 and permits foreand aft adjustment of the head restraint 102 relative to the supportpost 104 and consequently the seat back. The locking mechanism 126 isactuated by the button assembly 108, which may be provided to facilitateunlocking of the locking mechanism 126.

The button assembly 108 slides a first gear rack 128 in an uprightdirection. The gear rack 128 is mounted for translation in the traversemember 122. A pinion gear 130 is pivotally mounted to the traversemember 122 and is in engagement with the first gear rack 128. A push rod132 is mounted to the traverse member 122 for actuation in a lateraldirection from one lateral side of the head restraint 102. The push rod132 includes a second gear rack 134 formed on a distal end thereof inengagement with the pinion gear 130. Thus, actuation of the buttonassembly 108 raises the first gear rack 128 thereby rotating the piniongear 130 and driving the second gear rack 134 for consequently actuatingthe push rod 132 inboard.

The push rod 132 engages a leaf spring 136 at a central portion thereofthat is spaced apart from a pair of ends that are fixed to the traversemember 122. A pair of locking arms 138, 140 are each mounted to thetraverse member 122 to translate in an upright direction of the traversemember 122. The locking arms 138, 140 each extend into one of thesleeves 124 for engagement with one of the notches 118, 120 in the posts114, 116. The leaf spring is retained in engagement with each of thelocking arms 138, 140 by extending within a pair of retainers 142, 144that are provided on the locking arms 138, 140. The leaf spring 136 inthe unloaded position engages the retainers 142, 144 of each of thelocking arms 138, 140 thereby urging the locking arms 138, 140 intoengagement with the notches 118, 120 of the posts 114, 116 for lockingthe head restraint 102 in the fore and aft direction. When the push rod132 is actuated in the inboard direction, the leaf spring 136 iscompressed thereby retracting the locking arms 138, 140 out of thesleeves 124 for unlocking the posts 114, 116 and consequently the frontand rear shells 110, 112 for movement in the fore and aft directionrelative to the support posts 104.

The operation of the locking mechanism 126 is also illustrated anddescribed in German patent application number DE 10 2010 003 349.9,filed Mar. 26, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

A series of posts 146 are provided on the rear shell 112 and extend tothe traverse member 122. A series of coil springs 148 are each providedaround the posts 146 for engaging the traverse member 122. According toone embodiment, the springs 148 are extension springs such that when thelocking mechanism 126 is engaged, the springs 148 retract the shells110, 112 to a forward-most orientation until it reaches a limit to therange of travel, or is stopped by the locking mechanism 126, or isstopped by a manual force provided by a body part of the occupant.Therefore, when the occupant unlocks the locking mechanism 126, the headrestraint 102 is urged to a reset position that is in the forwarddirection as permitted by the occupant. Thus, the springs 148 urge thehead restraint 102 towards the head of the occupant for optimizingconvenience, comfort and safety. Alternatively, the springs 148 could becompression springs for retracting the head restraint 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the button assembly 108 may be a slidebutton 150. The slide button 150 may be mounted on a lateral side 152 ofthe head restraint 102. In order to actuate the slide button 150, theslide button 150 may slide or translate in a direction perpendicular tothe lateral direction of the head restraint 102. The slide button 150may be actuated by an occupant by pushing or sliding a slide button face154 in a direction parallel to the lateral side 152 of the headrestraint 102.

The slide button face 154 may include a raised element 156 in order toallow an occupant to grip the slide button face 154 easier whenactuating the slide button 150. The slide button 150 may also include aprojection arm 158 which extends inboard from the button face 154. Whenmounted on the head restraint 102, the projection arm 158 may extend ina direction parallel to the lateral direction. The projection arm 158may extend inboard from the button face 154 and be generallyperpendicular to the button face 154. As such, the projection arm 158may move in the same direction as the slide button face 154.

The slide button assembly may be mounted in a flange 160. The flange 160may be on an outboard surface of the head restraint 102 through anopening in the cushion or integrally formed in the shells 110, 112. Theflange 160 may have a diameter larger than the diameter of the slidebutton face 154 in order to allow the slide button face to translatewithin the flange 160.

An adjustable head restraint assembly 200 is depicted according toanother embodiment. The head restraint assembly 200 includes a headrestraint 202 upon a support post 204. A traverse member 206 is providedupon the support post 204. The traverse member 206 is provided with alocking mechanism 126 according to the prior embodiment for extendinginto sleeves 208 of the traverse member 206 and engaging posts 114, 116of front and rear shells 110, 112.

The button assembly 108 is provided upon the shells 110, 112 foractuating a first linear slide 210 that is mounted to the traversemember 206 for translation in the upright direction. A flexible band 212is connected to one end of the linear slider 210 and to an inboard endof a push rod 214 of the locking mechanism 126. The flexible band 212 isretained within a guide 216 on the traverse member 206. The flexibleband 212 is generally arcuate about a radius that has an axis in thefore and aft direction. The band 212 has a rectangular cross sectionwith a width extending in the fore and aft direction and a thickness ina radial direction. The width is greater than the thickness of the band212 for providing resiliency to translate and push the push rod 214,while providing flexibility for converting linear motion of the linearslider 210 in the upright direction to linear motion of the push rod 214in the laterally inboard direction. The flexible band 212 may be formedof any suitable material such as a flexible polymeric material and maybe formed integrally with the linear slider 210 and the push rod 214.

The locking mechanism 126 may include an elongated bar 218 which may beconnected to the button assembly 108. As such, the elongated bar 218 maybe connected to the projection arm 158 of the slide button 150. Thelength of the elongated bar 218 may be substantially longer than thewidth of the projection arm 158 so that the projection arm may maintainin contact with the elongated bar 218 as the locking mechanism 126 movesin the fore aft direction.

In one embodiment of the invention, the slide button may translate in anupright direction. The upright direction may be generally vertical wherethe head restraint and seat back are also vertical. As such, the uprightdirection may be generally perpendicular to the lateral direction. Wherethe side button face 154 is actuated in the upright direction, theprojection arm 158 may engage an underside of the elongated bar 218. Itis also contemplated that the elongated bar 218 may also include agroove or other engagement feature to receive the projection arm 158.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the elongated bar 218 may bedisposed on the linear slider 210. By moving the slide button face 154in an upright direction, the projection arm 158 may also move in theupright direction thereby moving the elongated bar 218 and the linearslider 210 in the upright direction as well. The elongated bar 218 mayalso be provided with the locking mechanism 126 according to the priorembodiments. For example, the elongated bar 218 may be disposed on thefirst gear rack 128 as shown in FIG. 4. Likewise, in this embodiment,when the slide button face 154 is translated in the upright direction,the projection arm 158 would also move in the upright direction therebyraising the first gear rack 128 in the upright direction as well.

FIGS. 8 through 11 depict a button assembly 108 according to anotherembodiment. It is also contemplated that the button assembly 108 may bea rocker button assembly 220. The rocker button assembly 220 may bemounted on the lateral side 152 of the head restraint 102. The rockerbutton 220 may be pivotally mounted relative to the head restraint 102.

The rocker button assembly 220 may include a rocker member 222 which isadapted to pivot relative to a mounting flange 224. The rocker member222 which includes a button face 226 and the lever 228. The rockerbutton face 226 may be generally planar from which the lever 228 mayextends.

The mounting flange 224 may be mounted on the head restraint 102 or,alternatively, integrally formed in the front and rear shells 110, 112.The mounting flange 224 may include a fulcrum portion 232 which definesthe pivot axis 230 of the rocker button assembly 222. The rocker member222 may further include a fulcrum extension 234 which is adapted toalign with the fulcrum portion 232 of the flange 224. The fulcrumextension 234 may include an aperture 236 which may align with the pivotaxis 230.

When the rocker button assembly 220 is actuated by an occupant, thebutton face 226 may tilt thereby pivoting the lever 228 in a directionperpendicular to the lateral direction. The rocker button assembly 222may cooperate with the locking mechanism 126. As such, the lockingmechanism 126 of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 4 and 7 may bedisengaged by pivoting of the lever 228.

The button actuator 108, such as the slide button 150 or the rockerbutton 220, may be biased so that when the button actuator is no longermanually actuated by an occupant, the button actuator returns to alocked position such that the head restraint is prevented from movingfore and aft. Additionally, the button actuator 108 may be biased byforces from the leaf spring 136 so that when the button actuator 108 isno longer manually actuated by an occupant the button actuator 108returns to a locked position such that the head restraint 202 isprevented from moving fore and aft.

FIG. 12 illustrates another head restraint assembly 300 that is similarto the prior embodiments and includes a head restraint 302 upon asupport post 304. A traverse member 306 is provided on the support post304 and supports a locking mechanism 126 that is also similar to theprior embodiments. The locking mechanism 126 extends into sleeves 308 ofthe traverse member 306 for engaging the notches 118, 120 provided inthe posts 114, 116 of front and rear shells 310, 312. A rocker buttonassembly 314, similar to the rocker button assembly 222 may be providedon the shells 310, 312. The rocker button assembly 314 includes a lever316 that is pivotally mounted relative to the shells 310, 312. The lever316 includes a generally planar manual input surface for being depressedby an occupant. The rocker button assembly 314 cooperates with a pushrod 318 of the locking mechanism 126. Thus, the locking mechanism 126can be disengaged by pivoting of the lever 316 instead of pushing alinear push button. The rocker button assembly is also more compact thatprior art linear push buttons by employing a mechanical advantage thatis not available when directly pushed by the occupant.

FIG. 14 illustrates a rocker button assembly 320 according to analternate embodiment in which the rocker button assembly 320 may pivotin at least two directions. The rocker button 320 may have a pivot axis322 about which the rocker button 320 pivots. The rocker button 320 mayhave a generally planar button face 324 and may be actuated to a firstpivot position when the rocker button 320 is depressed by an occupant ona first end 326. Likewise, the rocker button 320 may be actuated to asecond pivot position when the rocker button 320 is depressed by anoccupant on a second end 328.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the rocker button 340 may be utilized by ahead restraint assembly 330. FIG. 16 illustrates a head restraintassembly 330 which includes at least two locking mechanisms. The firstlocking mechanism 332 may allow adjustment of the head restraint 330relative to the seat back in the fore and aft direction. The operationof the first locking mechanism 332 is also illustrated and described inGerman patent application number DE 10 2010 003 349.9. For example, thetraverse member 333 may include sleeves 335. The sleeves 335 cooperatewith posts for adjustment of the head restraint 330 in the fore and aftdirection. The posts are not visible in FIG. 15. However, it isunderstood that the post are similar to the posts 114 shown in FIG. 4.The traverse member 333, the sleeves 335 and the posts may begenerically referred to as guide members. The second locking mechanism334 may allow adjustment of the head restraint 330 relative to the seatback in the upright direction. The operation of the second lockingmechanism 334 is also illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No.7,562,936 filed on Aug. 29, 2008 and issued on Jul. 21, 2009, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The rocker button 320 may be connected to the first locking mechanism332 along the first end 326. Actuating the rocker button 320 to thefirst pivot position may disengage the first locking mechanism 332 sothat the occupant may adjust the head restraint 102 in a direction foreand aft. Similarly, the rocker button 320 may be connected to the secondlocking mechanism 334 adjacent the second end 328 so that actuating therocker button 320 to the second pivot position may disengage the secondlocking mechanism 334, thereby allowing the head restraint 102 to beadjusted in the upright direction.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternate dual-button assembly 340 which may beused with the head restraint 330 in FIG. 15. The dual-button assembly340 may include a first button 342 and a second button 344 locatedadjacent to each other. The first and second buttons may have buttonfaces 346, 348 respectively.

The first button 342 and second button 344 may be push buttons such thatthe button faces 346, 348 slide in the lateral direction when the pushbuttons are actuated by an occupant. The first and second buttons mayhave push bars 350, 352 respectively which extend perpendicularly fromthe button faces 346,348. The push bars 350, 352 may also include anattachment feature, such as an aperture, for connecting to the firstlocking mechanism 332 and second locking mechanism 334.

Referring back to FIG. 15, the first push button 342 may be connected tothe first locking mechanism 332 by the first push bar 350. Actuating thefirst push button may disengage the first locking mechanism 332 so thatthe occupant may adjust the head restraint 330 in a direction fore andaft. Similarly, the second push button 344 may be connected to thesecond locking mechanism 334 by the second end so that actuating thesecond push button 344 may disengage the second locking mechanism 332,thereby allowing the head restraint 330 to be adjusted in the uprightdirection. The head restraint 330 includes support posts 331 that areadapted to be mounted to the vehicle seat back. The traverse member 333is operative to slide along the support posts 331 for adjusting the headrestraint 330 in the upright direction. The support posts 331 may begenerically referred to as guide members. The first push button 342 andthe second push button 344 may be simultaneously actuated by an occupantthereby unlocking both the first locking mechanism 332 and the secondlocking mechanism 334 concurrently. Therefore, the head restraint 330may be adjusted in both the fore-aft direction and upright directions atthe same time. In one embodiment, the posts 331 are a first guide memberand the traverse member 333 is a second guide member. The second guidemember is mounted to the first guide member for movement in the up anddown direction. A sleeve or third guide member 335 is mounted to thesecond guide member. A fourth member cooperates with the third guidemember for movement relative to the third guide member in the fore-aftdirection. The fourth guide member may be a post similar to post 114shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 18 illustrates the head restraint assembly 24 with a cover removedthereby revealing a locking mechanism 64 for locking the head restraintto the upright portions 46, 48 of the posts. The locking mechanism 64includes a single spring wire 66 that extends laterally within thecavity of the lower housing portion 50. The spring wire 66 has a firstend 68 at one lateral end of the lower housing portion 50, and a secondend 70 that extends to the other lateral end of the lower portion 50.Each of the sleeves 56, 58 includes a recess 72, 74 formed therein forproviding access to the corresponding upright portion 46, 48 of theposts. In the locked position, the spring wire 66 extends into bothrecesses 72, 74 thereby engaging the upright portions 46, 48 of theposts and locking the head restraint to an adjusted position upon theupright portions 46, 48 of the posts.

Referring now to FIG. 19, one of the sleeves 56 is illustrated inpartial section for illustrating the recess 72, which permits the springwire 66 to engage the upright portion 46 of the corresponding post.Additionally, each upright portion 46, 48 of the posts may include aseries of incremental notches 76 formed therein and aligned with therecess 72 so that the spring wire 66 may extend into the notches 76 ateach incremental height position for securely locking the head restraint38 at the desired position.

Referring again to FIG. 18, the push button 40 is illustrated extendingthrough the sidewall 54 of the lower housing portion 50 and engaging thesecond end 70 of the spring wire 66. Actuation of the push button 40 byintroduction of an external force, consequently actuates the spring wire66 thereby disengaging the spring wire 66 from the upright portions 46,48 of the posts 26, 28 for unlocking the head restraint 38 and foradjusting the height of the head restraint 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 20, the second end 70 of the spring wire66 includes a transverse portion 82 that engages the push button 40.Thus, actuation of the push button 40 actuates the transverse portion 82of the spring wire 66. A leading surface 84 is provided on thetransverse portion 82. A second ramp 86 is provided within the lowerhousing portion 50 within the path of movement of the leading surface 84of the transverse portion 82. Thus, as the push button 40 and thetransverse portion 82 of the spring wire 66 are translated to anunlocked position, the leading surface 84 of the transverse portion 82engages the second ramp 86 thereby urging the spring wire 66 away fromand out of engagement with the upright portion 48 of the post.

Actuation of the push button 40 in a linear direction as indicated bythe arrows in FIG. 18 translates the push button 40 from the lockedposition to an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the leadingsurface 78 of the spring wire first end 68 has engaged the first ramp 80and thereby urges the spring wire 66 out of engagement, and consequentlyout of a notch 76 of the upright portion 46 of the post. Likewise, theleading surface 84 of the transverse portion 82 of the second end 70 ofthe spring wire 66 has engaged the second ramp 86 thereby urging thespring wire 66 out of engagement with the upright portion 48 of thepost. In this unlocked position, the spring wire 66 is no longerengaging the upright portions 46, 48 of the posts and therefore thespring wire 66 is disengaged from the corresponding notches 76 therebypermitting the user to adjust the height of the head restraint.

Referring now to FIG. 17, it is also contemplated that at least one ofthe first button 342 and second button 344 may be rocker buttons whichpivot about a pivot axis. For example, the first button 342 may be arocker button 354 which pivots about a pivot axis 356 while the secondbutton 344 is a push button 358 which moves linearly in the lateraldirection when manually actuated. In an alternate embodiment, at leastone of the rocker button 354 or the push button 358 may be motorized sothat the button is connected to a motor 360 which function to disengageor cooperate with the first locking mechanism 332, for example.

While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle head restraint assembly comprising: afirst guide member adapted to be mounted to a vehicle seat back; asecond guide member mounted to the first guide member for movement in anupright direction relative to the first guide member; a head restraintmounted to the second guide member; a first locking mechanismcooperating with the first guide member and the second guide member forlocking the second guide member relative to the first guide member in anupright position; a first button actuator mounted to an outboard side ofthe head restraint and connected to the first locking mechanism so thatactuation of the first button actuator disengages the first lockingmechanism for permitting adjustment of the upright position of the headrestraint relative to the vehicle seat back; a third guide membermounted to the second guide member; a fourth guide member mounted to thethird guide member for movement relative to the third guide member in afore-aft direction; and a second locking mechanism cooperating with thethird guide member and the fourth guide member for locking the fourthguide member relative to the third guide member in a fore-aft position;a second button actuator mounted to the outboard side of the headrestraint and connected to the second locking mechanism so thatactuation of the second button actuator disengages the second lockingmechanism for permitting adjustment of the fore-aft position of the headrestraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
 2. The vehicle headrestraint assembly of claim 1 wherein the first button actuator is apush button such that the first button actuator slides in a lateraldirection.
 3. The vehicle head restraint assembly of claim 2 wherein thesecond button actuator is a push button such that the second buttonactuator slides in a lateral direction.
 4. The vehicle head restraintassembly of claim 1 further comprising: a biasing member mounted to theone of the head restraint and the seat back frame for movement relativeto the one of the head restraint and a seat back frame, the biasingmember cooperating with the at least one of the first guide member andthe second guide member and at least one of the head restraint and theseat back frame for maintaining the one of the head restraint and theseat back frame at a locked position along the at least one of the firstguide member and the second guide member, wherein the first buttonactuator member is mounted to the head restraint adjacent the biasingmember, the first button actuator cooperating with the biasing membersuch that movement of the button actuator from a first position to asecond position compresses the biasing member thereby disengaging thebiasing member from at least one of the first guide member and thesecond guide member for permitting movement of the head restraint alongthe at least one of the first guide member and the second guide member.5. The vehicle head restraint assembly of claim 1 further comprising: aseries of notches formed spaced incrementally in the fore and aftdirection formed in one of the first guide member and the second guidemember; a biasing member for biasing the locking mechanism intoengagement with the series of notches; a first release mechanism mountedto the one of the first guide member and the second guide member, sothat actuation of the button actuator manually actuates the firstrelease mechanism; and a second release mechanism mounted to one of thefirst guide member and the second guide member for actuation in alateral direction, the second release mechanism cooperating with thefirst release mechanism such that linear actuation of the second releasemechanism from one lateral side results in compression of the biasingmember to disengage the locking mechanism from the series of notches forpermitting adjustment of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seatback.
 6. An adjustable head restraint assembly comprising: a pair ofguide posts adapted to be secured to a seatback; a head restraint guideframe mounted to the pair of posts for movement in an upright directionalong the posts for permitting adjustment of the head restraint relativeto the vehicle seat; a head restraint mounted to the frame; a firstlocking mechanism for maintaining the guide frame in a locked positionalong each of the pair of posts; a biasing member mounted to the headrestraint frame for movement relative to the frame, the biasing membercooperating with the frame and the pair of posts; and a first buttonactuator mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint andcooperating with the biasing member such that movement of the firstbutton actuator compresses the biasing member, and thereby disengagingthe biasing member from the pair of posts for permitting movement of thehead restraint along the pair of posts; a first guide member mounted tothe frame; a second guide member mounted to the first guide member formovement relative to the first guide member in a fore-aft direction; asecond locking mechanism cooperating with the first guide member and thesecond guide member for locking the second guide member relative to thefirst guide member in a fore-aft position; and a second button actuatormounted to the outboard side of the head restraint and connected to thesecond locking mechanism so that actuation of the second button actuatordisengages the second locking mechanism for permitting adjustment of thefore-aft position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seatback.
 7. The vehicle head restraint assembly of claim 6 wherein thefirst button actuator is a push button such that the first buttonactuator slides in a lateral direction.
 8. The vehicle head restraintassembly of claim 7 wherein the second button actuator is a push buttonsuch that the second button actuator slides in a lateral direction. 9.The vehicle head restraint assembly of claim 6 further comprising: abiasing member mounted to the one of the head restraint and a seat backframe for movement relative to the one of the head restraint and theseat back frame, the biasing member cooperating with the at least one ofthe first guide member and the second guide member and at least one ofthe head restraint and the seat back frame for maintaining the one ofthe head restraint and the seat back frame at a locked position alongthe at least one of the first guide member and the second guide member,wherein the first button actuator member is mounted to the headrestraint adjacent the biasing member, the first button actuatorcooperating with the biasing member such that movement of the buttonactuator from a first position to a second position compresses thebiasing member thereby disengaging the biasing member from at least oneof the first guide member and the second guide member for permittingmovement of the head restraint along the at least one of the first guidemember and the second guide member.
 10. The vehicle head restraintassembly of claim 6 further comprising: a series of notches formedspaced incrementally in the fore- aft direction formed in one of thefirst guide member and the second guide member; a biasing member forbiasing the first locking mechanism into engagement with the series ofnotches; a first release mechanism mounted to the one of the first guidemember and the second guide member, so that actuation of the buttonactuator manually actuates the first release mechanism; and a secondrelease mechanism mounted to one of the first guide member and thesecond guide member for actuation in a lateral direction, the secondrelease mechanism cooperating with the first release mechanism such thatlinear actuation of the second release mechanism from one lateral sideresults in compression of the biasing member to disengage the lockingmechanism from the series of notches for permitting adjustment of thehead restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
 11. A vehicle headrestraint assembly comprising: a first guide member mounted proximate toa vehicle seat back; a second guide member mounted to the first guidemember for movement in a fore-aft direction, wherein one of the firstguide member and the second guide member has a series of notches formedtherein spaced incrementally in the fore and aft direction; a headrestraint mounted to the second guide member; a first locking mechanismmounted to the other of the first guide member and the second guidemember for extending into one of the series of notches for locking thesecond guide member at an incremental position relative to the firstguide member, the locking mechanism including a biasing member forbiasing the locking mechanism into engagement with the series ofnotches; and a first button actuator mounted to an outboard side of thehead restraint and connected to one of the first guide member and thesecond guide member for actuation from one lateral side of the headrestraint, the first button actuator cooperating with the lockingmechanism such that linear actuation of the actuator from the onelateral side results in symmetrical compression of the biasing member todisengage the locking mechanism from the series of notches forpermitting adjustment of the fore-aft position of the head restraintrelative to the vehicle seat back; a third guide member mounted to thefirst guide member; a fourth guide member mounted to the third guidemember for movement relative to the third guide member in an uprightdirection; a second locking mechanism cooperating with the third guidemember and the fourth guide member for locking the fourth guide memberrelative to the third guide member in an upright position; and a secondbutton actuator mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint andconnected to the second locking mechanism so that actuation of thesecond button actuator disengages the second locking mechanism forpermitting adjustment of the upright position of the head restraintrelative to the vehicle seat back.
 12. The vehicle head restraintassembly of claim 11 wherein the first button actuator is a push buttonsuch that the first button actuator slides in the lateral direction. 13.The vehicle head restraint assembly of claim 12 wherein the secondbutton actuator is a push button such that the second button actuatorslides in the lateral direction.